Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes Mamelodi Sundowns and national team captain Ronwen Williams is deserving of the prestigious Yachine Trophy at the Ballon d'Or awards but has expressed one concern.
The list of nominees for the accolade was published publicly on Wednesday evening and, much to the delight of South Africans, Williams' name is on that list.
The Yachine Trophy is handed to the best-performing goalkeeper worldwide.
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He became only the fourth African net minder to be nominated and first-ever player to be nominated while playing for an African-based team.
The 32-year-old had a sensational season at club and continental level last term.
Williams helped The Brazilians lift the inaugural African Football League as well as the league title. I
In the same season, he guided Bafana Bafana to third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations and stunned the world when he made four saves during a penalty shootout against Cape Verde in the quarterfinals.
For his heroics, the Gqeberha native was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament having kept the most clean sheets in the continental showpiece in Cote d'Ivoire.
Speaking to the media ahead of Bafana's clash against Uganda on Friday, Broos made a bold claim about Williams' prospects of winning the prestigious individual prize.
"It's surely something I am proud of if one of your players is nominated in the Ballon d'Or," said the Belgian, popularly known as 'Madala' among South Africans.
"I looked a little bit on who is on the list. For me, he has the chance to win it, but he is only South African and with these things, sometimes they are sometimes looking for a bigger name.
"But if you look at the performance, he deserves it and it makes me proud.
"He is nominated for the Ballon d'Or, he's the captain of the team and, okay, the respect is enormous," he added.
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Bafana will be without Williams due to injury when they face Uganda on Friday night at Orlando Stadium in a crucial World Cup qualifier clash. Kick-off is at 18:00.